Real Estate Reports

+ Alina Mazzaferro earns CDPE designation
Alina Mazzaferro, sales associate for Re/Max Excellence, has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, after receiving training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales.
“This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales,” said Mazzaferro, in a prepared statement. “It is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure.”

+ Fontanot LLC purchases St. Armands building
Manuel Fontanot’s Fontanot LLC has purchased the building at 349 Monroe Drive on St. Armands Circle from a Maus family-owned trust for $2,995,000.
The Maus family owns the fine-clothing and accessory chain Maus & Hoffman, which closed its location in the building earlier this year. The building includes additional retail and office space.
According to Fontanot’s son, Azore, the family would like to open a Mexican restaurant in the building, while keeping the remaining tenants (Shelley Stein MSW, LCSW, Yacht Harbour Realty and Toni’s Too Boutique) and leasing space upstairs.
The Sarasota Development Review Committee discussed a proposal submitted by Fontanot in a pre-application session at its Oct. 21 meeting that would convert the existing two-story building from retail and office use to a restaurant with seating for 150.
According to the city’s pre-application comments, restaurants are a permitted use within the Commercial Tourist Zone District.

+ Carol Buchanan joins Re/Max Excellence
Carol Buchanan has joined Re/Max Excellence and will serve the Longboat Key, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa areas. Buchanan specializes in luxury real estate, vacation homes, new constructions, investment property and foreclosures. She became a Realtor 11 years ago.

+ A Paradise Realty names top agents for October
A Paradise Realty announced its top agents for the month of October. In the Holmes Beach office, Quentin Talbert was the top sales agent, and Dave Vande Vrede was the top listing agent.